NAMIBIA: SOUTHERN AREA

Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Namib Desert in the west and the orange dunes of the Kalahari in the east, Southern Namibia is a land of wide open spaces and solitude. It offers a diversity of unique attractions ranging from historical buildings and ghost towns to fossils and quiver tree forests.

The main attraction of the southern region is the spectacular Sossusvlei, a clay pan formed when the shifting dunes of the Namib smothered the course of the Tsauchab River. Surrounded by majestic star-shaped dunes with curvaceaous lines, the pan and the surrounding dunes are especially breathtaking in the early morning hours. The pan can be dry for up to a decade, but after heavy floods, it can hold water for almost a year. Nearby is the spectacular Dead Vlei with its pure white clay floor and dead camel thorn tree trunks reaching skywards.

Sesriem, the gateway to Sossusvlei, is named after a 30m deep canyon carved through layers of conglomerate by the Tsauchab River. The name is translated as “six thongs” – a reference to the fact that pioneer farmers had to use six ox thongs to lower buckets to the pools in the narrow canyon.

Namib Rand Nature Reserve, 60 km south of Sesriem, is Namibia’s largest private reserve. Namib Rand’s diversity of landscape represents virtually all facets of the Namib Desert. Visitors to the reserve are more than likely to encounter gemsbok (oryx), hyena, hartebeest, zebra, springbok and some of the more than 120 different bird species recorded. The mysterious “fairy circles” are an ubiquitous feature of Namib Rand.

Adjoining the dune sea to the east is the Naukluft massif with its deep valleys, canyons, undulating hills and sheer cliffs. A sanctuary to the surefooted Hartmans’s mountain zebra, the rugged mountains are a haven to outdoor enthusiasts, offering walks, a challenging 8-day hike and a 4x4 trail. Game to be seen include gemsbok, kudu, springbok, klipspringer, dassies and baboons.

Duwisb Castle is another well-known attraction in the south of the country. Built in 1908-9 by Captain Hans-Henrich von Wolf, the castle nestles between rolling hills, southwest of Maltahöhe. It is open to day visitors while campsites are also available.

Awe-inspiring is perhaps an understatement when describing the raw beauty of the Fish River Canyon, which ranks amongst the largest canyons in the worlds. The most spectacular section is 65 km long and the canyon reaches a depth of 549m. The Ai-Ais Resort is renowned for its thermal springs and marks the end of the 85 km long Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail, one of the top hikes in Southern Africa.

The Fish River Canyon conservation area and the adjoining Richtersveld National Park in South Africa have been designated Namibia’s first trans-frontier conservation area. The Orange River, which forms a natural boundary between the two countries, offers pleasant conditions for canoeing and rafting.

Travelling westwards of Aus towards Lüderitz, the landscape is characterised by seemingly never-ending plains merging in the distance with the horizon. This is the home of the wild horses of the Namib, one of the few populations of desert-dwelling feral horses in the world.

Built amongst rocky outcrops along the southern Namib coast, Lüderitz owes its existence to the discovery of diamonds in 1908. With its wealth of German colonial buildings, Lüderitz has survived time and the elements unlike the former mining settlements at Kolmanskop, Elisabeth Bay and Pomona which became ghost towns.

The area surrounding Keetmanshoop is renown for its quiver tree forests, dolerite rock formations eroded into weird shapes and fossils of prehistoric fish. Travelling north towards Windhoek from Keetmanshoop, the volcanic rim of Brukkaros is a distinctive landmark.

Hardap Dam Resort, just north of Mariental, lies on high cliffs overlooking the country’s largest dam. In addition to being a popular angling and watersport destination, the game park offers visitors an opportunity to see a variety of game species in their natural habitat.